System for controlling signal lights and the like



March 10,1931. P. R. FORMAN SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING SIGNAL LIGHTS AND IKE LIKE Filed Nov. 26, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 awueuboz 3 all Pal-i s R farm an 35 Ms abto'onuf Ag 0J5 .1 l1 l1 CTICIZTQQ March .10, 1931. P. R. FORMAN SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING SIGNAL LIGHTS AND THE LIKE 26, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov.

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Patented Mar. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PARIS B. FORMAN, OF BAHWAY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL PNEUMATIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING SIGNAL LIGHTS AND THE LIKE Application filed November 26, 1928. Serial No. 321,852.

This invention relates in general to a combination of instrumentalities by means of which the signal or display lights on a plurality of vehicles comprising a train can be energized from a plurality of points on the train and deenergized from the same or any other of a plurality of points on the train.

A further object of this invention relates to a system of this type which is exceedingly simple in construction, highly eflicient in operation, stable, and dependable.

.A further object of this invention involves a system of the above type in which but a single wire running throughout the length of .5 the whole train is required.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a circuit for the lights or signal devices of a train by means of which they can be controlled from either end of 39 any car in the train or can be turned on at one of these points and turned off at any other one of these points on the train in which it is only necessary to run one wire through the coupler between the cars.

These and other objects, as will be apparent from the following disclosure, are secured by means of this invention.

This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction, arrangement, relative location of parts, and circuital connections, all as will be apparent from the following disclosure.

Referring to the drawings.-

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the circuit employed in this invention as applied to a three car train; the circuits for each car lying between the dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a plan view with the cover removed of the relay used in this invention; and

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the relay.

In the present day operation of trains comprising a plurality of cars it is quite usual to display on each car of the train some form of car light or destination sign light. For example, in the operation of subway trains each car is provided at one or more points with a transparent sign indicating the destination of the train and a light is employed in connection therewith in order to render the sign visible. This invention has to do with a plurality of instrumentalities and circuit connections therefor by means of which these signal lights can be turned on at any one of a plurality of points on the train and turned off at that point or at any other one of the plurality of control points on the train.

A complete understanding of the invention will best be secured by reference to the drawings. The circuits relating to this invention have been shown as applied to three cars but it will at once be apparent that this circuit is adaptable for use on a train comprising any number of cars. The circuit wire running throughout the train is shown comprising sections 1*, 1 and 1. These wires represent the wire running throughout the length of each of the three cars comprising the illustrative train. The coupling devices between each car have been indicated at 2, 3, 4, and 5 which, when connected together in the usual and well known manner, connect these wires on each car into a single wire running throughout the train.

On each end of every car push buttons A, B, G and D are employed. These push button switches are of the type which make but momentary contact and are arranged so that they may not be closed simultaneously; in other words, switches A and B cannot be closed simultaneously nor can switches C and D be closed simultaneously. This feature represents by itself no part of this invention since there are many types of push button switches now known of this nature. For in stance, a single oscillatable switch arm may be employed controlled by both push buttons so that pressure on both of the push buttons at the same time would be balanced and prevent the operation of the oscillatable arm. A wire 6*, 6", and 6 on each car connects the corresponding lower contact on the switches A and C of each car. The wires 7, 7 and 7 on each car connect the upper contact of switches A and B on each car with the train wire 1*, 1 and 1 respectively. Wires 8, 8 and 8 connect wires 1, 1", and 1 with the upper contact of switch 0 on each car and with the upper contact of switch D on each car. Wires 9, 9, and 9 connect wires 1, 1, and 1 with one terminal of the magnet winding 10, 10 10, the other terminals of which are grounded. Wires 12, 12 and 12 con nect wires 6, 6 and 6 with the upper left hand contact of the relay having the magnet windings through resistance 11, 11 and 11. Each relay is supplied with the upper and lower contact arms 13, 141; 13', 14 and 13 14:". grounded by wire 15, 15 and 15. The lower contact of each switch 1) is grounded through wire 16, 16 and 16. The lower left hand contact of the relay is connected to the various signal devices, such as the lights, through wires 17, 17 and 17 the other terminal of the signal devices being grounded. The lower right hand contact of each relay is connected through the blowout coil to the positive side of the current source indicated by the legend 600 V. The current for energizing the windings of the relays is supplied from a current source'to each wire 6, 6 and 6 through the wire indicated by the legend 32 V. The other terminal of this current source is grounded.

Before describing the operation of this system the construction of the relay will be given by reference to Figs. 2 and 8. The relay is within a metal container 20 having the integral flanges 21 by means of which it is secured to any suitable support. The container has on its two longer sides'the flanges 22 over which a slidable cover 24 moves. Within the container is a magnet coil winding 25 which corresponds to the windings 10, 10, and 10 of Fig. 1. The magnet 25 has a fixed core 26 which serves to attract the slidable armature 27. The slidable armature supports and moves the contact members 13 and 14. Supported within the casing and insulated therefrom are two sets of contacts comprising the rods 28 and 29. These sets of contacts are arranged so as to be bridged by the discs 14 and 13 when the magnet is energized.

The contacts 28 are provided with terminal posts 32 and contacts 29 are provided with terminal posts 31. The terminal posts for the magnet 25 are shown at 30. The description of this relay has merely been given to illustrate the principles of this inventionmore clearly and not in a limiting sense since it is apparent that many other forms ofelectromagnetic switches may be employed.

In the operation of the system let us first assume that it is desired to operate the signal devices, whatever their nature maybe. "To do this any push button A is closed and let us assume specifically that the push button A on the left hand end of the left hand'car is closed. Current then flows from the positive side of the currentsource indicated by the legend 32 V through wire-6, through push button A, wire 7, wire 1, wire 9, winding 10, and thence to ground. Asa resultthe The lower contact of each switch Bis winding 10 attracts the armature and causes the discs 13 and 14 to bridge their respective sets of contacts. The upper disc 13 com- )lGtQS a holding circuit for the magnet winding 10 in the following manner. Current flows from the current source indicated by the legend 32 V through wire 6, wire 12,

resistance 11, contact disc 13, through a portion of wire 9, and through windlng 10 to ground. "Thus the momentary closing of switch A andenergization of coil 10 effects a holding clrcuit forthe coil 10 so that the circult controlled by contact" discs 14 remaius closedas long desired. At this point marked bythe legend 32V through wire- 6 and the closed push button switch A to wires 1, 1 and 1, etc. The signal circuit is supplied through the wire marked 600 V, blowout coil, contact disc let, wire 17, to the signal device (not shown), and thence to ground through which the current flows back to-the other terminal of the current source which is grounded. As soon as all of the relays are operated all the signal. device circuits 17, 17 and 17 etc, are simultaneously closed. To deenergize the si nal devices any one of push button switches B are closed. When any one of these switches is closed a short circuit is placed around therelay winding so that the current therethrough is sufficiently reduced to permit the discs on the relay to move away from their contacts, thus breaking both the holding circuits for the relays and the circuits which energize the signal devices. One terminal of each switch B is grounded, as is one terminal of each magnet winding. The other terminal of switch 13 is connected, for example, through wire 7 wire 7, and wire 9 to the other terminal of the magnet winding. Thus a direct short-circuit is placed across the magnet winding. Again, since all of these circuits are in parallel each magnet winding is simultaneously.short-circuited upon the closing of any one of push buttons 13. As a result the holding circuits with all the magnet windings are broken, as well as the signal circuits controlled by each relay.

From the foregoing disclosure it will be apparent that l have evolved certain principles which comprise this invention and which may be embodied in many forms of apparatus and circuit connections and I do not, therefore, deslre to be strictly limitedto the illustration disclosed in the specification and drawings but rather to the scope of the invention as it is defined in the appended claims. 7

What I seek to secure by United States Letters Patent is 1. In a system of the type described adapted for use on a train of any number of cars, the combination comprising a single conductor for each car all adapted to be connected together to form a conductor running throughout the length of the train, an electromagnetic switch for each car connected to said conductor, a plurality of hand switches on each car for controlling the circuits for said electromagnetic switches, a holding circuit for and controlled by each of said electromagnetic switches, a signal circuit also controlled by each of said electro-magnetic switches, and circuits including switches on each car for deenergizing all of said electromagnetic switches, said electro-magnetic switch being adapted to be energized upon the closing of one of said hand switches for closing both the holding circuit and the signal circuit.

2. In a signal circuit for trains comprising any number of cars, the combination comprising electro-magnetic switches including holding circuits one for each car, circuits for said switches, two sets of hand switches for each car connected to said circuits and a signal circuit controlled by said electro-magnetic switches, said electro-magnetic switches and holding circuits being energized by closing one switch of any one of said sets and the holding circuits being short-circuited by closing the switch of any of said sets to make and break said signal circuit.

3. In a system of the type described for use on trains of any number of cars, the combination comprising a plurality of electro-magnetic switches one for each car, circuits for said electro-magnetic switches including holding circuits controlled by said electromagnetic switches, signal circuits controlled by said electro-magnetic switches and two sets of a plurality of switches in said circuits, one of the switches of one of any said sets being operable toenergize all of said electromagnetic switces which operate to close the holding circuit to maintain them energized for any desired period of time and the other switch of any one of said sets being operable to short-circuit the holding circuit whereby the signal circuits are made and interrupted.

4. In a system of the type described for use on trains of any number of cars, the combination comprising a single wire signal circuit, a plurality of electro-magnetic switches one for each car connected to said signal circuit, circuits for said electro-magnetic switches including holding circuits controlled by said electro-magnetic switches, and two sets of a plurality of switches in said electro-magnetic switch circuits, any one of the switches of one of said sets being operable to energize all of said electro-magnetic switches which operate to close the holding circuit to maintain them energized for any desired period of time and to close said signal circuit and any one switch of the other of said sets being operable to short-circuit all of said electro-magnetic switches whereby the signal circuit is interrupted.

5. In a system of the type described for use on a train comprising any number of cars, the combination of electro-magnetic circuit controlling means one for each car, signal circuits controlled by said electro-magnetic means, circuits for said electro-magnetic means including a plurality of sets of switches, said circuits including a signal wire extending throughout the length of the train and holding circuits for said electro-magnetic means controlled thereby, any switch of one of said sets being operable to energize all of said electro-magnetic means which act to maintain themselves energized through said holding circuits and to complete said signal circuits and any one switch of another set of said switches being operable to short-circuit said electro-magnetic means whereby both the holding circuits and the signal circuits are interrupted.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 20th day of November, A. D.

PARIS R. FORMAN. 

